We often find ourselves inspired by the natural world around us at Alila Ventana Big Sur. And with this appreciation for nature, we tend to become collaborators with the earth– Creating art, experiences, menus, music, and more. One of our greatest collaborators with the environment is our very own Executive Chef Zachary Ladwig. We sat down with him to learn more about how his menu curation aligns with the nature of Big Sur. Here’s what we he had to say:
On Backyard Ingredients:
Showing his admiration of Big Sur, Chef noted, “The landscape here is striking, it’s really breathtaking. The uniqueness of it is the aqua hues and the fact that we’re set on a steep hillside overlooking the ocean. We have the best of all worlds, and we use the best of what’s around us.” He told us that many of the ingredients on your plate come from the land around you: Mushrooms and herbs, foraged from the land; Locally, and sustainably sourced seafood from the Pacific Ocean; and even fresh pasta, made daily with eggs from the neighborhood hens.
On Community in a Culinary World:
While Chef runs a tight ship in the kitchen, the sourcing of ingredients takes a village– And fortunately, the Big Sur community is bountiful and generous. Here are some of the incredible partnerships that allow Chef Zachary to create uniquely flavorful dishes with his ‘ingredient-forward’ approach:
Chickens from Fog Line
Ducks from 38 North
Produce from Rancho Rico (including Chef’s favorite: persimmons!)
Mushrooms and herbs from local foresters
Seafood from local fishermen
On His Strengths & Faves:
“Before coming to Alila Ventana Big Sur, I was at Dunton Hot Springs and Inn at Dos Brisas. We did all organic farming on the property, so I bring a strong ambition to maintain the integrity, simplicity, and purity of each ingredient. My strength is working with single vegetables, and single vegetable families, and highlighting them in a dish”. You can see this technique by Chef carried through in dishes like his organic carrots with carrot miso dressing and herbs.
As for favorites, we tempted Chef to tell us his all-time favorite ingredient. His current obsession? Persimmons! With excitement, he told us, “This ingredient has been a favorite of mine for a long time. When they come around each season, I try to do something new with them. It’s a unique, sweet fruit that lends itself to more savory dishes. Down the road, there’s an antique orchard that’s been bringing in amazing persimmons for the last two weeks– We’re talking over 100lb per week! We’re pretty fortunate”.
On Dining Like a Pro:
We asked Chef if there was any advice he’d give a food novice when approaching the menu at Ventana Big Sur. He encouraged an open mind (and empty stomach), an appreciation for the purity of the ingredients, and the willingness to try new things. His recommended dinner order? He says, “Start with the organic carrots with carrot miso dressing & herbs. Then, the beetroot cured salmon with baby beets & housemade yogurt. Our pasta is all made in house, so move into handmade seaweed spaghetti with sea urchin sauce”. Sounds like a true Big Sur palette exploration to us!
On His Dream Dinner:
Of course we had to ask the age-old question (with a twist): If you could cook for, and then dine with anyone in the world, who would it be? His answer: “I’ve gotten to cook for so many neat people throughout my career. If I could cook for anyone and then dine with them, it would be my 6-year old son who lives in Texas. He has an amazing palette, and he always comes with great dinner questions”. Hearts=melted.
And Finally, On The Future:
You may think a new Executive Chef in town would mean a new menu, new rules, new everything. Not with Chef Zachary. He firmly believes in the motto “Slow is fast and fast is smooth”-- A saying aligned to his approach in stepping into this new role. He says, “Immediate change is not a thing I’m doing. Steady, incremental changes is the way to go”.
A few things we can predict in a future with Chef Zachary leading the way:
Sustainable sourcing will continue to be a key practice at Ventana.
You can definitely expect Persimmon season to be a party in the kitchen.
Partnerships will grow, and hopefully, so will the culinary community in Big Sur.
The natural landscape will inspire our new chef and his (incremental) menu additions.
As for now, we’ll be eagerly waiting to see what Chef creates next!
Special Note:
On behalf of Alila Ventana Big Sur, we’d like to thank our partners and vendors for their business, friendship, and generosity. We are lucky to work with those who also value sustainability and eco-responsibility in the culinary world. If you are visiting the area, we encourage you to pay a visit to our partners and shop local for the best ingredients in Big Sur!
We’d like to introduce you to our favorite feeling: Awe. Awe is the emotion you feel when you’re in the presence of something vast or not immediately understood. In Big Sur, we are humbled each day by the majestic and otherworldly beauty around us. It’s a place where awe is found at every turn.
Why do we love the idea of awe? In the podcast, How to Be a Better Human, host Chris Duffy explores the ‘science of happiness’ and learns of a study done by Dr. Virginia Sturm, professor of neurology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California at San Francisco. The study had participants go on an ‘awe walk’ in nature for 15 minutes each day. And what made this different from your average stroll through the trees? They were instructed to walk with the intention of tapping into awe, looking at the world around them with a childlike sense of wonder.
The results: Those who tapped into the feeling of awe for just 15 minutes a day had increased levels in compassion, gratitude, and joy that stayed with them long after their walk ended.
This is why we fully embrace awe at Alila Ventana Big Sur. We encourage every guest to arrive with an open heart and the intention of looking at the world around them in a new way. We want you to experience wonder, create deeper connections, and leave with the elevated sense of compassion, gratitude and joy.
As you prepare for your Alila Ventana retreat, here is our list of favorite awe-provoking moments on your journey to the immaculate central coast of Big Sur:
Highway 1
Embracing the curves of Big Sur’s staggering coastline
Andrew Molera State Park: Headlands Trail
Allowing yourself to feel small under the towering redwood trees
Bixby Bridge
Marvel at the perfect intersection of architecture and nature
Point Lobos
Peer into the secret lives of the local sea otters & harbor seals. What are they talking about on those rocks?
Your Room!
Take a moment to truly tap into the gratitude you feel during your stay
When autumn rolls through the central coast of California, there’s a shift in energy– Unseen, but felt deep in the soul. The beauty of our landscape is one which doesn’t embark on a deep transformation into the fiery hues of fall. While the waves keep crashing and the redwoods remain tall, it’s the air around us that lets us know a new season has arrived.
It’s crisp. Autumn air is a kind that fills your lungs and leaves you energized with every exhale. It’s the coolness around you that makes your coffee taste better, your blankets feel cozier, and your heart feel warmer with nostalgia and comfort. It’s a sign to embrace the tranquility of the changing season with every invigorating breath.
It’s the ambience of fall that channels our inner creative to come out from the shadows. Match the moodiness of the landscape around you and feel deeply in everything you do. Wander down new paths, indulge in a seasonal menu item you might not always choose, or search for inspiration between the cliffs and the horizon.
When your retreat to Alila Ventana happens to land in the midst of this autumnal equinox, we encourage you to embrace the fresh air and tap into the changes you may experience yourself. Perhaps you find a hidden talent for spotting owls between the branches. Or maybe you allow a creative intuition to lead you towards a new experience of art and nature. As the days grow shorter, you may find yourself preferring to move your body under a star-filled sky with night hikes, yoga or a dip in the pool.
Autumn in Big Sur is felt deeply. We welcome brisk mornings and cloudy afternoons. We create sanctuary in the changing season and invite you to experience autumn at Alila Ventana Big Sur by embracing change in yourself.
We like to believe the most romantic getaways are the ones where you create deeper human connections, while simultaneously falling in love with the world around you. And love, much like nature, is brought to life through many forms. Some of us love in crashing waves, strong and sudden, all-consuming. While some of us love in rays of sun, a warm and gentle illumination.
You’re probably familiar with The Five Love Languages, a concept created by author, Gary Chapman, to identify the different ways we each prefer to give and receive love: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Acts of Service, and Receiving Gifts. We encourage you to tap into your love languages at Alila Ventana Big Sur and discover new ways to connect with your partner on a deeper level.
How to elevate your love language in Big Sur: (Haven’t taken the quiz? Do it here!)
1. Words of Affirmation: Fireside Chat Under the Stars
There’s something about the glow and crackle of a fire that sets the scene for deeper conversations. You can talk about the day of adventures you shared, and how you felt when you tried something new. You can exchange notes, poems, or secrets that are only heard by you and the stars. Or maybe, you just take this time to say, “Hey, I appreciate you”.
2. Physical Touch: Sweat Together
Get your endorphins racing with a bike tour through Big Sur, or feel the slow burn of a vinyasa flow. You can even add an element of play and trust by trying our aerial class above the coastline. Find an appreciation of your own body, as well as your partners, when you move in new ways, creating new adventures together.
3. Quality Time: A Cozy Night In Your Suite
Quality time is more than being in the same room– It’s about being present with the person you care about. Whether you’re swinging in a hammock, listening to the beat of their heart, or drawing a bath to soak in every moment together, a night-in can bring you the connection you crave.
4. Acts of Service: Wellness Day at the Spa
Yes, typically, acts of service would be done by your partner… But let us be the ones to care for you at Alila Spa. Arrange for a private couple’s massage, set among the redwood trees, or retreat to the Japanese hot baths– believed to foster emotional intimacy.
5. Receiving Gifts: Hand-Crafted Art, Made With Love
If you or your partner are keen on receiving gifts as a token of appreciation, try one of our immersive arts activities to make something from the heart. You can try your hand at leathercrafting, macrame, and watercolor painting. No matter which you choose, we know you’ll find inspiration creating for the one you love.